The Moms Who Want Autism to Qualify for Medical Marijuana

We ought to listen to moms. They often know more than we do, do more than we know, and we all know more than a few who would give their lives for their families.

That’s the idea behind Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism (MAMMA). Originally founded in Texas, there are now 13 chapters across the nation, including one in our Centennial State. This advocacy group of devoted mothers began their campaign (#cannabis4autism) in hopes of changing state laws to provide legal access to organically grown, whole plant cannabis under a doctor’s guidance for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Over 3 million individuals are affected by autism, but only three states — Delaware, Georgia and Pennsylvania — allow medical marijuana as a treatment. Just under half of the states have legalized the whole-plant use of medical marijuana, but contrary to common misconceptions, it’s not a free-for-all — patients need a qualifying condition and a doctor’s recommendation. Autism doesn’t qualify under constitutional or statutory law in Colorado, leaving families to apply under comorbid conditions (a child would have to have a legally qualifying condition in addition to autism). In Colorado, children with the disorder can use cannabis as treatment only if they also experience seizures, persistent muscle spasms, severe nausea or severe pain.